Today, 31-year-old Juan Perez pled guilty to two counts of aggravated murder relating to a double homicide that occurred outside Rookies Sports Bar and Grill in Parma in 2021. As reported by FOX 8, Perez has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 66 years, effectively setting a course for him to spend the remainder of his life behind bars potentially.
The incident, which claimed the lives of 27-year-old off-duty Cuyahoga County Correctional Officer and security guard Timoteo Cruz, as well as 29-year-old Sean Acierno, took a fatal turn when Perez and his brother, according to details from WKYC, were asked to leave the bar after becoming belligerent. Shortly after being ejected, Perez retrieved an AR-15 from his vehicle and began shooting in the bar's parking lot, ultimately resulting in the tragic deaths and a non-fatal shooting of a 23-year-old woman.
Luis Candelario, Perez's brother, undeniably played a crucial part in the events as the getaway driver. His guilt was acknowledged with a 12-year prison sentence handed down to him in October of 2022, as detailed by FOX 8. The prosecution, bolstered by surveillance video evidence of the shooting, painted a grim picture of what transpired in the early hours of that fateful March evening.
The aftermath of the violence has extended beyond the courtroom. The formerly bustling Rookies location, as detailed by WKYC, closed its doors in April, and the space now houses the Parma Tap House. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley reflected on the gravity of the situation, stating, "What was supposed to be a fun night out at a local sports bar turned to tragedy due to senseless gun violence." O'Malley's office revealed that Acierno perished at the scene while Cruz succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital. Cruz had been serving the sheriff’s department since 2017, according to information from Cleveland 19.
